The International Higher Education Support program (HESP) of the Open Society Institute promotes the advancement of higher education within the humanities and social sciences in Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe; the former Soviet Union; and Mongolia. HESP activities include support for institutions and individuals.

HESP provides assistance, both financial and technical, to a network of institutions, ranging from undergraduate universities to doctoral programs and advanced studies centers. HESP institutional support focuses on sustainable curriculum and faculty development and the improvement of methods for teaching and learning. Through carefully structured support and the creation of a network of institutions, HESP assists reform efforts within the field of higher education.

HESP support for individuals is distributed primarily through large regional programs such as the Academic Fellowship Program, the Central Asia Research and Training Initiative, the Regional Seminar for Excellence in Teaching, and the Student Initiatives. The principle objective underlying all regional programs is the building of teaching capacity in the social sciences and humanities.

HESP cooperates closely with Central European University (CEU) through its Special and Extension Programs, which implement a variety of outreach programs such as the CEU Summer University, the Curriculum Resource Center, the Regional Seminar on Recent History, the Hosting a CEU Lecturer Program, and the Junior and Senior Research Fellowships.

HESP and OSI's Scholarship Programs work closely together to fund the participation of students, scholars, and professionals from Southeast Europe, the former Soviet Union, Mongolia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East in rigorous, competitive academic programs outside their home countries. These programs aim to revitalize and reform the teaching of the social sciences and humanities at higher education institutions; to provide professional training in fields unavailable or underrepresented at institutions in the countries served; and to assist outstanding students to pursue studies within alternative academic and cultural environments.

HESP also provides technical support to the Soros Foundations in their higher education programs.

Board Chair
Bill Newton-Smith

Thomas Alexander
Yehuda Elkana
Üstün Ergüder
Andrey Kortunov
Patricia Albjerg Graham
Anne M. Lonsdale
Jo Ritzen

Executive Secretary to the Board
Julia Debreczeni

In 2006, the International Higher Education Support Program continued to help make its network institutions sustainable; to engage Soros foundations and Central European University as resources for strengthening state universities in regions of greatest need; and to reaffirm the importance of investing in both institutions and individuals.

Read more about HESP 2006 activities.